GETTING the ball wasn't the problem for Devizes on Saturday, but doing anything useful with it was.

Full back James Pople was the only player for the home side who troubled the scorers, using his boot from long range.

His two penalties in the first half and a third just after the break proved enough to secure an unsatisfying win for the Saddlebacks, despite his opposite number JJ Bell slicing through for the only try of the game with 20 minutes to go.

In truth Bell's try was one of few entertaining points in the contest at Devizes Sports Club which never reached any great heights.

From a scrum win the elusive full back came into the line and a ran a nice angle to elude the first up defence, his pace proving too much for Pople's last ditch effort and the Devizes back row.

His touch down in the corner wasn't converted, and the Saddlebacks did a reasonable job on the whole of keeping the ball from the opposition, but showed a lack of patience and cohesion when they had it themselves.

The defence of Redingensians in their own quarter was impressive throughout, but they were forced into infringing at times to keep the home side at bay.

The referee's whistle contributed to the countless breaks in play, and decisions favoured Devizes in the first 15 minutes as the Saddlebacks made their usual strong start.

Pople converted one penalty from almost directly in front around 30 metres out and extended the lead to six points with a second successful effort slightly left of the uprights from the 22 yard line.

While they defended stoutly, the visitors didn't really threaten when in possession, and really only looked like scoring on the break when fly-half Andrew Amor could fins his outside men.

After the break the trend continued, much to the chagrin of the supporters, but the biggest problem for Devizes seemed to be decision making.

The forwards would roll on, and after five or six phases the backs were screaming for the ball, but seldom seemed to receive it.

Fly-half Gareth Jones was more often in the thick of the action with his forwards throughout the second half rather than standing outside his number nine Tom Collins. Pople slotted another penalty 10 minutes in, followed almost immediately by Bell's try, and the Saddlebacks went closest when hooker Rich Gilbertson was held up over the line.

Redingensians threatened to steal the league points late on with a couple of break outs from their own territory, but the home side held on with some determined tackling of their own.

Devizes centre Paul Dyton had a solid game with limited opportunity to be named man of the match, and second/back rower Mike Walsh was probably the best among the forwards.

The rampant attacking play of the Tadley win in December seems all too distant after this performance, but a win is a win. The players will hope to deliver a more entertaining display when they try to complete the league double over Bradford on Avon at the Sports Club on Saturday.

Devizes 2nd 10 Andover 26

Devizes scored first in this friendly through new Fijian recruit Esava Ratumaisese, who took an interception and sprinted 60 metres to touch down.

Andover then scored two tries in an evenly contested first half to take a slender lead at the break.

Centre Nick Munien, leading a Devizes selection for the first time, led a very good defensive effort from the backs along with Matt Monckton and Ryan Wallbridge, but the bulky Andover pack eventually outmuscled Devizes.

Martin Brimble made some nice runs from full-back and the Saddleback forwards proved their worth towards the end of the match when Simon Hale scored from a rolling maul. Two more earlier tries had secured the match for the visitors.

In another fixture at Devizes School third grade side went down to the veterans 22-10.

The highlight of this contest was a potentially career ending tackle executed by centre Mike McCrum on veteran full-back Mark Gingham.